José Antonio Camacho

Camacho was born in Cieza, Murcia. Began his football career playing in the schoolyards and streets of Cieza, where he gradually developed his skills and stood out among his peers. At the age of six, he moved with his family to Albacete. During this period, the family considered returning to their native province, and he even underwent trials for the youth academy of Real Murcia; however, the club’s coaches opted for other players, reportedly claiming that Camacho was too slight in build. Ultimately, the family decided to remain in Albacete. His footballing promise began to crystallize at the age of sixteen, when he played for Atlético Jareño, a club based in Villanueva de la Jara, in the province of Cuenca (the hometown of his future wife), before joining the youth team of Albacete Balompié, where he was deployed as a left winger. The name of the young José Antonio Camacho soon began to circulate within Spanish football circles, and national team manager Héctor Rial called him up to the Spain national under-18 team. His impressive performances earned him promotion to Albacete Balompié’s first team, which at the time competed in the Primera Regional division. After playing at Albacete, he moved to La Liga giants Real Madrid at age 18, being almost immediately cast into the first team and its starting XI, his debut being handed by manager Luis Molowny on 3 March 1974 as he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away loss against Málaga. During his spell with Real Madrid, Camacho…

Camacho played 81 games for the Spain national team, making his first appearance just 19 years old. His debut came on 5 February 1975 in a 1–1 draw against Scotland for the UEFA Euro 1976 qualifiers, in Valencia. For the following 13 years, Camacho was a defensive mainstay for the national side, being selected – and always as first-choice – to the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, as well as Euro 1984 and 1988. After the 2–0 group stage loss to West Germany in the latter competition, he retired from the international scene aged 33.

Beginnings

Following his retirement as a player in 1989, Camacho began coaching, first in Real Madrid's coaching staff. His first professional experiences were spent at Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol, both of which he helped promote to the top division. In the summer of 1998, Camacho took over Real Madrid's first team, but left after only 22 days over disagreements with the club's management.

Spain national team

Camacho succeeded Javier Clemente as national team manager in September 1998, after a shock 3–2 loss in Cyprus in a Euro 2000 qualifier. The tide quickly turned under the new boss, who led the side to the final stages where they bowed out to eventual champions France in the quarter-finals. Two years later, Camacho's team lost in the same stages to South Korea, now in the 2002 World Cup. Following the controversial defeat he announced his resignation, being replaced by Iñaki Sáez.

Benfica

Camacho returned to club action subsequently, being appointed at Benfica from Portugal on 1 December 2002 in the place of sacked Jesualdo Ferreira. Two years later, his team won the Taça de Portugal against José Mourinho-led Porto in extra-time, ending Benfica's longest silverware drought, as well as finishing second in the Primeira Liga. A tough tackler in his playing days, Camacho also showed a human side when he cried profusely after Miklós Fehér died on the pitch, shortly after entering Benfica's match at Vitória de Guimarães.

Real Madrid and…

Club

International

Managerial

As of match played 14 February 2020